Major Snowfalls Across North America

Ski areas across North America are reporting big snowfalls as storms move in from both East and West coasts.

The range of temperatures between the hottest and coldest parts of the continent is currently reported to exceed 100 degrees and in some places the snow is arriving along with ultra-low temperatures as well as gale force winds impacting operations.

California is receiving heavy snowfall and gales just ahead of the Palisades hosting the FIS Alpine Ski Racing World Tour this weekend. The latest reports are that the races are currently still on but accompanying festivities including a big music concert have had to be cancelled.  

The world’s deepest snow depth at Mammoth Mountain which had reached 6.6 metres (22 feet) a month ago but had since dropped to 5.85m (19.5 feet) has jumped back up to 6.3m (nearly 21 feet)

Further north in BC, Canada the concern is very low temperatures leading  to the closures of some lifts. Apex (pictured top) reports 70cm (28″) of snowfall so far this week.

The new snow and cold temperatures are being particularly welcomed by ski areas in New England and along the East Coast which have had warm weather in recent weeks and in some cases struggled to maintain snow cover. They’re now joyfully reporting deep powder conditions.

That’s also the case in the Midwest with ski areas in Minnesota and Michigan reporting powder days too. Buck Hill in Minnesota, where Lindsey Vonn’s career began, is pictured above on Thursday.

In the Pacific Northwest and Rockies this latest snowfall builds on heavy snowfall already over the past week which saw several ski areas in Montana and Alaska post over five feet of snowfall in the past week.